Colorado Springs News, Sports & Business

Klee: Waste Tulo's prime years? Don't do it, Rockies

+ captionColorado Rockies Carlos Gonzalez (5) is congratulated by Troy Tulowitzki (2) after hitting a solo home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

DENVER - An hour before the Broncos and Raiders kicked off "Monday Night Football," I spotted a familiar face behind the north goal posts.
There was Troy Tulowitzki, a Broncos jersey stuffed in the back pocket of his blue jeans, shagging field goals off the foot of Sebastian Janikowski.
Tulo...

Red Sox fans turned Coors Field in Fenway West on Tuesday. Prior to first pitch, Tulo guided a family of giddy Rockies fans through the clubhouse and indoor batting cages.

There are times when I wonder if Tulo is simply a tour guide for the Rockies, an All-Star talent who draws fans to the ballpark for a team usually playing catch-up to the rest of the NL West.

Does Tulo feel the Rockies make the necessary moves to build a contender?

"That's tough. We definitely have good enough players to win. At the same time, we're not the organization that's going to go out and sign the best free agent every year," Tulo told me in an earnest conversation. "I understood that when I signed here. I would love to play with great players.

"But you also have to realize what the organization is about. So sometimes you have to understand the business side of it, too."

Do you watch the other movers and shakers and wonder what that would be like?

"Oh, yeah. All the time," he said. "When you're a baseball fan, you look at certain teams and say, 'Oh, I'd enjoy playing with him. Or I'd enjoy playing with that team. It looks like a bunch of good dudes.' But I'm also happy here and love the guys I play with."

There are four games left in the Helton Era.

Then it should be Tulo Time, for real.

"I think with Todd leaving, this is the next chapter in my career. I have to take over," Tulo told me. "I think I got pushed into that role as a younger player. But Todd was still here. Next year will be a lot different. It will be a little weird without him at first base.

"It doesn't happen often that a guy is one place for 17 years. Hopefully one day I'll be in those same shoes. It's got to be an honor. It's special."

With 14 losing records in 21 seasons, the Rockies make it human nature to forget the special player at shortstop.

"Seventeen years goes by in a heartbeat," Helton said Tuesday.

Dear Rockies: Don't let Tulo's prime years go by. Not without putting up a fight.